Ngayong graduate na ako sa Ateneo, gusto kong ishare ang feelings at karanasan ko nung nag-aaral pa ako dito. haha. ito una, Health Sci life ko sa Ateneo... isusunod ko yung AteneoBlueSymphony life, ASLA life, at (last but not the least), living in Ateneo as an LDS (Mormon) :D
i-edit ko na lang pag may nalimutan ako. hehe
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Upon
entering college, I only have one goal in mind, and this covers the other goals
that I have before: to go to Ateneo, finish my course and become a doctor FOR
my parents and family. This was my ultimate goal; this was my dream, this was
the mindset that I have. I only have this goal for myself, and I felt that it
was selfish. After realizing and understanding so many things now because of
the education that I’ve got here in Ateneo, a lot has changed about me, about
how I see things and how I respond to them. Before I have this goal for my own
benefit, for my own future career, now I have this goal in for other people to
benefit, and to help them to their own future. The Ateneo has helped me change
my perspectives in life, and Health Sciences has enhanced that — it will
forever be in me because of them.
My
goals haven’t changed during my stay in Ateneo, but rather, it became many.
Before, I was only thinking of myself, but now, I have formed goals that I want
to accomplish to help other people. Starting with my freshman year, I became
familiar with the Ateneo culture like magis and being a man and woman for
others. I was new to the culture, along with my blockmates who came from
different places. Through OrSem, we got to know each other and start new
friendships. It was really challenging since we are all from different
hometowns, from different culture and different standards. At the back of my
mind, I said to myself that I wanted to show them that I am a Mormon, that I am
a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. And so, that’s
what I am doing until now. Fortunately, they (my blockmates and other friends),
were able to respect my standards and are also valuing it as much as I do. I am
so grateful to them for that kind of respect and regard.
I
began my journey in Ateneo with people who are really understanding and caring;
I had support and love from my family, especially when I get homesick because
this was the first time that I have experienced to live away from them. It was
tough, but I am glad I had my roommates and my God to rely upon, to seek
comfort and strength from. Temptation and procrastination was also part of the
challenge since I only have a few units, and I have more time than usual, than
what I thought I would have compared to high school, it was so tempting to do
other stuff. I was balancing out my academics and leisure activities. I joined
a few organizations, but then decided not to become so active so that I may not
lose focus on the academics and at least maintain a 2.75 or higher QPI for
Health Sciences. Honestly, I felt overwhelmed with what I did in high school so
much that I decided to have a low profile in college, so I was not able to do
everything that I have wanted to do, especially to join Sanggunian (because
back in high school, I was part of the student council from first year to
fourth year). I said to myself that I would try different orgs, orgs that are
not so familiar to me but still somehow related to my course, to help me keep
myself inspired and motivated to study and pursue medicine in the future. I
joined PMSA, and SPeed for my first year, until second year for SPeed, and
third year for PMSA. Retention requirements for the org are difficult for me
that time because I usually go home on weekends and their events happen on
those weekends when I go home. At the same time, in our church, I was called to
be the President of the Institute of Religion Student Council in Las Piñas
Stake, so I have to consistently go home and meet with the members or update
them.
Just
when I thought things are getting smooth and fine, they were not — tough
decisions have to be made, for most of the time, they don’t happen the way I
wanted or planned it to be. However, even though it goes like this, I will
always depend and ask for the Lord’s guidance and love for me to keep going and
to love myself, and what I do.
Second year
in college, I fell in love with my PE — Dancesports — and so I decided to try
and be part of the club. That year, I was really into dancing, even in church;
I was the payongera in our singkil dance every time we have to present a
cultural show to a General Authority who would visit the country and the
region. Dancing has helped me stay fit, and in the right posture and poise. I
was also able to manage my time due to the stress and physical activity that I
am doing. Because I focused on this, I neglected my other orgs and was able to
join only a few activities and programs. I couldn’t help it, I was exploring
myself, my wants, my desires, my interests and my priorities. And I think, for
this year, it was dancing. I enjoyed it for I was taught a lot and it helped my
body and mind to focus. But then I think, I was not destined to last here until
senior year. Come third year, I joined Ateneo Blue Symphony and fell in love
once more.
Second year
college was tough for this was the year where I have the most number of units
and subjects compared to other year. Aside from that my mind is starting to be
bothered if I really wanted to pursue to medical school or not. Factors and
goals for and such as my church and family are already clashing in my head. It
was really difficult. But then, I still relied on the Lord. I was really
grateful that I not only learn about Him in our church, but also in Ateneo,
through the Theology classes. Sir Badion has taught us a lot, and it was memorable
and worth it. Health Sciences 1-unit courses have also guided me in getting to know
the course that I have been into. We were taught how health professional should
be Also, NSTP has made me see and reflect on the community and the children as
we taught them basic nutrition lessons. They were really enthusiastic and
excited to learn. This kind of exposure has helped get more inspired and
motivated. There were times when I’d like to give up because of the stress and
pressures around me, but then, thinking about the kids to whom I teach every
weekend from 8am to 12nn, I always get the feeling that I have to keep on
moving and never give up because someday, in time, I will be able to help them
– that takes years of hard work and discipline, but I know I can do it,
especially for them. Second year has given me a lot to reflect on, and I was
bothered by it.
My third
year in college has defined me a lot. We were already building up on thesis; I
explored more organizations; Philosophy and Theology courses were already
taught; the subjects are getting harder and seemingly random; and I have had
more exposure than usual. First, thesis: we were given time to plan as early as
junior year to choose group mates and come up with a thesis proposal. Although
the units were fewer than in sophomore year, we had 6-day classes this year for
Epidemiology and Scholarly work classes. At first, we all thought that this was
too much for us to handle, but then come the senior year, we were really
thankful to have taken these subjects. Next, the Philosophy and Theology
courses are starting to fill up my mind, my perceptions, my understanding and
my heart. I was able to discover myself and get to know who I really am in the
philosophical perspective. Family, other people, and the environment were also
highlighted, especially in theology. The importance of family and love were
highly emphasized. I am really thankful to my professors: Manny Dy and Fr.
Pojol, for being able to teach me things and words of wisdom that I have been
applying until now. These lessons have shaped my character, how I look at life
(my own and others’) and how I should respond to it.
I was also
exposed to other subjects, which seemed very random for this course: LS and
Accounting – although we were taught of the basic things compared to others, I
haven’t seen the point of having to learn this until I took a business
management course for my minor in Japanese studies. Because of this I have
realized how this course (Health Sciences) has been shaping to be competitive
in different kinds of fields, even those not directly related to medicine.
These business management courses have helped me understand what and how it is
like in the corporate world and how the field of medicine is connected to it,
especially to the hospitals and the professional doctors.
Furthermore,
I was exposed to more people and more experience about Public Health in my junior
year. Because of JEEP (Junior Engagement Program), I was able to experience how
it was like to work for a health center in Marikina and assist the health
workers and the residents in the area. In our time of duty, the schedule was
for vaccination and other processes done to a baby. So every time we go there,
the patients were the babies and their parents. Again, I have seen and realized
how I can help others because of this experience.
The last
highlight of my junior year was the organizations: Ateneo Blue Symphony and
ASLA. I eventually left Dancesports and decided to join the Ateneo Blue
Symphony. Aside from the fact that I was invited once again by Argyll, I missed
playing the piano and I felt that I needed to keep music in my college life
since in Dancesports, I have started to have doubts because of the standards
that I have especially in clothing – I don’t think that I will be able to wear
such dancing clothes which exposes a lot of skin, and so I left. I entered a
new org, not knowing if I can handle this, not knowing if I’ll get through
this, but I still did. The first few rehearsals were fine, but as it we get
closer to the target date of the concert, things were getting tough and
stressful – everyday rehearsals, meetings and practices. It consumes most of my
time, which is both good and bad – good, because I learned how to balance my
time, now that I have more to do than usual, I need to organize myself and
manage my time to be able to accomplish everything. However, the bad side is,
it’s stressful for me – going home late, eating dinner late at night and then
practicing when I got home, I felt like it was too much to handle.
Nevertheless, I still continued and did my best, and I’m still here! Despite
all the rants, all the physical stress, I have come to love the org and the
members. I think this was the org that made me most welcome, and feel loved,
which is why I stayed and I endured. I have learned a lot, and I have grown as
an individual and as a social being. I’ve come to know more people and
understand them also. I realized how different we were and how we should accept
and help one another despite those differences. Now, I was able to perform in 3
concerts, and will also perform the last concert for me as a senior, on March
6. This org has helped me through a lot of things – in this org, I discovered
myself, what I really wanted to have and what I didn’t want to lose; in this
org, I fell in love, got hurt, but stood up and walked again; in this org, I
felt pain and stress, but it only made me stronger; in this org, I was able to
exercise my leadership and spread my love to others.
The next
org that have changed me also is ASLA – Ateneo Student Leaders Assembly. I was
one of the 50 participants back in my junior year, and I came back as a facilitator
now. This was a humbling experience for me. This is not like any typical
leadership training that is usually done, rather the activities done here are
according to the individual’s or the group’s needs as leaders of their own
organizations. The activities are altered and modified in order for the
participants to relate to the experience better. This is a wonderful program,
especially to the student leaders. For me, I was able to discover more of
myself, and my relationship with the Lord and other people. It always gives me
a feeling of responding to the needs of the country and helping others to do
the same. ASLA taught me to be myself and use my skills and knowledge to serve
others and the country. Those notebooks, pens and reflections that I’ve had are
always treasured in me and I use them most of the time to counsel with my
friends. In ASLA, I’ve learned how to ask the right questions and have the
right answer eventually. Bonding with the people whom I have come to know and
trust, I was able to be more of myself and to exercise more of my leadership in
so many ways.
Last but
not the least: my senior life in college. This is a kind of roller coaster ride
for me. For my 4th year summer semester, I studied FLC 1 in
Japanese, and this made me pursue a minor in Japanese studies. After that
semester, my thesis group mates and I went to Zambales to conduct a 10-day
house-to-house interview for our thesis data. Living together for 10 days, immersing
us not only with the community but also with each other and knowing that we
have different backgrounds, different ways of living, manners, mannerisms,
likes, dislikes. There were times when one is not in good terms with all of us.
We called it “tantrums.” Every time someone changes mood, because of external
factors, of not-so-personal reasons, there will be a bit of a conflict. Although
we are already used to living away from the family, and living with
roommates/dorm mates, it was a different feeling then, because we are in a
different area — almost 4 hours away from home — and we don’t know anyone
there, except each other and the people who helped us. Having to live within
what we have in terms of money, materials; it felt like we were on our own. It
was fun, but at the same time, it was really challenging and difficult. The
experience made me feel how lucky I am that I am not living alone, that someone
is taking care of me, that someone provides for me what I need. It was
surprising for us that the people there were so accommodating, kind and
helpful, even if we were strangers to them, even going house to house, to find
the people in the list, they would do that much to help us. In this experience,
my faith was really tested, challenged and used. I was not able to go to church
for 2 Sundays, and I thought I felt weak. I read the scriptures and prayed
more. But despite that feeling, I was touched and strengthened with the stories
of the people I have interacted with. Aside from hearing the struggles directly
from them, I also had a strong feeling of their sense of hope and faith in the
Lord. Despite what they have experienced, they never forgot the Lord, unlike
me, who is living a more comfortable life than them. The experience I’ve had
had proven both my strengths and weaknesses. Here I saw how patient I was, but how
vulnerable I was at the same time. Being humble not only to the people we were
interviewing but also among the group: to control and resolve the tension
experienced. Also, I became more concerned with the people there. A part of me
was left with them because I became more aware of their situation. Knowing that
I have the capability to help them, especially in the future, I realized that I
really have to work hard. The people in Olongapo became my inspiration and
source of happy memories. I am really thankful to have experienced interacting
with them.
I think
what sums up my fourth year life are: Thesis, Ateneo Blue Symphony, ASLA,
Japanese Studies minor, Philosophy and Theology and Health Sciences subjects,
especially Physiology. Take one away, and I think my experience in fourth year
life will not be as fruitful as I have wanted it to be. I have grown so much in
every aspect of my life, compared to how I was back in first year – now, I’ve
become stronger, wiser and more faithful. I have realized so much, I have loved
so much and have been hurt so many times, but I also learned that giving up is
not one of my options. I have learned that with everything that has happened to
me, I must always think what else could I do in order to use them in a good
way, and to have opportunities to serve others and the Lord.
My 4 years
in Ateneo de Manila University was really a great ride! There were ups and
downs, there were romances and heartaches, there were so many chances and
opportunities grabbed and neglected – they were all part of my experiences and
treasured moments. I am glad to have spent it with the Health Sciences Society
– this made me be the bigger person for others and be better in understanding them
and myself also.
